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Flash Drought Virtual Workshop: Agenda

December 1-3, 2020

View Presentations and Materials

Workshop Objectives

Strive for agreement on the basic set of characteristics to which definitions of flash drought should adhere; explore “most useful” flash drought definitions by sector, region, and application.
Discuss, understand, and document how existing tools and research can be shaped to meet user needs both in the near-term and in the future.
Develop a list of outstanding research needs in monitoring, prediction, and planning/response to improve early warning.
Agree upon next steps for this emerging domain and how NIDIS and other partners can support research and coordination.

Day 1: Tuesday, December 1, 2020

**Block 1: Scene Setting – Going Beyond Research**
Time (ET)	What	Who
10:30 am	Sign-in and Orientation Period	Moderator: Marina Skumanich, NIDIS
11:00 am	Workshop Welcome and Purpose	Moderator: Marina Skumanich, NIDIS Welcome: Veva Deheza, NIDIS
11:10 am	Setting the Context: Flash Drought Stories and Experiences	Presenters: Mark Svoboda, National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Pam Knox, University of Georgia Pat Guinan, University of Missouri Michael Downey, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
12:00 pm	5-Minute Break
12:05 pm	How is Flash Drought Defined in Practice? Report on End-User Survey Results	Tonya Haigh, NDMC
12:20 pm	Q&A / Discussion	Facilitator: Marina Skumanich, NIDIS
12:30 pm	Lunch Break (45 Minutes)

**Block 2: Exploring Flash Drought Characteristics**
Time (ET)	What	Who
1:15 pm	Flash Drought Literature Review Recap	Moderator: Marina Skumanich, NIDIS
1:30 pm	Breakout B1 Discussions: What are the effects of flash drought? How is it distinct from “normal” drought? What are key characteristics of flash drought? What indicators are most important?	“B1” Breakout Groups
2:15 pm	15-Minute Break
2:30 pm	Breakout B1 Report-Out and Group Discussion	Moderator: Marina Skumanich, NIDIS
3:30 pm	Adjourn Day 1

Day 2: Wednesday, December 2, 2020

**Block 3: Shaping Tools/Research to Meet User Needs**
Time (ET)	What	Who
11:00 am	Introduction to Day 2: Shaping Tools/Research to Meet User Needs	Joel Lisonbee, NIDIS
11:10 am	Breakout B2 Discussions: What are user needs related to flash drought? How can existing tools and research be shaped to meet those needs?	“B2” Breakout Groups (By Sector): Energy/industry Water resources Forestry/ecosystems Fire management Response/relief Recreation/tourism Agriculture (livestock) Agriculture (plants)
11:55 am	15-Minute Break
12:10 pm	Breakout B2 Report-Out and Group Discussion	Moderator: Joel Lisonbee, NIDIS
1:15 pm	Adjourn Day 2

Day 3: Thursday, December 3, 2020

**Block 4: Identify Research Needs in Monitoring, Prediction, and Planning/Response**
Time (ET)	What	Who
11:00 am	Introduction to Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps and Needs Session	Molly Woloszyn, NIDIS
11:05 am	Flash Drought Monitoring – Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps, and Needs	Presenters: Jason Otkin, University of Wisconsin Mark Svoboda, NDMC
11:20 am	Flash Drought Prediction – Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps, and Needs	Presenters: Andy Hoell, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory Hailan Wang, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
11:35 am	Flash Drought Planning and Response – Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps, and Needs	Presenters: Tim Hall, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
11:55 am	5-Minute Break
12:05 pm	Breakout B3 Discussions: Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps and Needs	"B3" Breakout Groups: Monitoring A Monitoring B Monitoring C Prediction A Prediction B Prediction C Planning A Planning B
12:45 pm	Lunch Break (45 Minutes)

**Block 5: The Path Forward**
Time (ET)	What	Who
1:30 pm	Breakout B3 Report-Out and Group Discussion	Moderator: Molly Woloszyn, NIDIS
2:25 pm	10-Minute Break
2:35 pm	Group Discussion: Revisit Flash Drought Characteristics from Day 1	Facilitator: Joel Lisonbee, NIDIS
3:05 pm	Introduction to Next Steps: A clear path forward for this emerging domain, and how NIDIS and other partners can support the research and coordination	Veva Deheza, NIDIS
3:10 pm	Group Discussion: Prioritization Which actions/activities are the highest priority? Which are "low-hanging fruit"?	Facilitator: Molly Woloszyn, NIDIS
3:40 pm	Workshop Wrap-Up	Veva Deheza, NIDIS
3:45 pm	Adjourn Workshop